Spill The Beans

I like talented people.

I guess the world does really. How else would the likes of lil wayne and carrot top become so great otherwise?

Please take a moment to enjoy the above sarcasm.

But seriously, I am fascinated by artistically talented people. Those who walk among us that can turn spilled coffee beans into art or throw a bunch of ugly things together to make something awesome. What blows me away even more are those talented people who are also witty and possess more common sense than yours truly (not that its hard). 

At one point I wanted desperately to be talented in that kind of way. In fact, that’s probably why I have been telling anyone with an ear (whether it works or not) that I want to play the fiddle. Its like my last attempt to fool life into thinking it gave me an ounce of creative talent.

Life will probably not be fooled. 

I find these artistically talented people in lots of places I never imagined I would. I know I mention this a lot, but suck it up because its worth mentioning. Since I can’t seem to draw my way out of a paper bag, can barely carry a tune in a bucket and look like I dress in the dark every day, it has become my not-so-silent mission in life to keep my eyes peeled for “hidden” creative talent around me every day.

Especially those who use their art for more than a paycheck.

During my undergraduate career I found myself surrounded by graphic designers. While I know they are talented, some of them weren’t interested in using their talent for anything more than designing newsletters for money-hungry companies or appearing on billboards for fancy alcoholic drinks.

I mean hey, we all have to put food on the table. I’m not knocking that.

But the people who always inspired me the most. The ones who made me so desperately want to take 8 years to learn how to be a graphic designer, the ones I sought out to live vicariously through are/were the ones who used their talents to tell a story. A story about the lives around them every day or the voices of those who never get heard. I wanted to be like those designers who made other people happy through their art.

Its an amazingly beautiful thing.

I encourage you to keep your eyes peeled for those artistically creative people around you as well. 

In the meantime, I’m gonna go draw and erase several stick men…